History and Reconstruction of Thirugnanasambandar

Abstract

Religious literature in Tamil is full of fiction with many unnatural events. Such stories were created for the development of religion. Beyond the tendency to approach them superficially as mere fiction, it is essential for the intelligent community to explore them on the basis that every fictional story has a background cause.Thus, the scriptures tell the story of Thirugnanasambandar, who is considered to be a Saiva (Devotee of Lord Siva) doing impossible deeds, differently from each other. This article reviews the obvious readings and reconstructions of the history of Thirugnanasambandar by Vannacharabam Dhandapani Swami in his Puluvar Puranam. They convey the oral stories and ideas about Thirugnanasambandar, that existed in the 19^th century, as well as the logical study of history and the fictional background of antecedents.